The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-11-20

Threatened Disturbances Ia London.
1t is expected in London that there will
be trouble in that city today. The author
tiles are determined that there shall be no
meeting in Trafalgar square, and 1t Is be-
lieved that the unemployed thousands, the
Radical clubs and the agitators have deter
mined that there shall be. In our dispatches
yesterday it was stated that 5000 special
constabeS have been sworn in, and that the
troops which will be in readiness to go to
the assistance of the police, if any assistance
is needed, have been supplied with buck
shot.
The riot which occurred in Trafalgar
square and its immediate vicinity last Sun
day was a very serious one. More than 200
of the populace and about forty policemen
were more or less seriously injured. II an
attempt is made to hold meeting to-day
the people will be better prepared to cope
with the police and will be more aggressive
than they were last Sunday, for the reason
that public sentiment in London is some
what divided on the question of the right
of the authorities to prevent meetings in the
square. Several of the news
papers have severely condemned
the police for their attacks on the people
last Sunday, and at a number of public
meetings, which included men of influence,
resolutions were adopted declaring that the
attack was an outrage.
There is no doubt that the right of the
people to meet in Trafalgar square, or else
where in the city, to give expression to
their grievances is admitted in London,
and, doubtless, no opposition would be made
to meeting in the square to-day, if it
were not thought that it would re-
suit in a very serious disturbance of the
peace. The reason that the meeting last
Sunday was prevented was the apprehen-
sion of riot. Meetings have been held in
the square frequently within the last year
or two, and until last Sunday the police
have done nothing to prevent them. Last
Sundays meeting, however, was intended
to be demonstration Of an unusual charac
ter. 1t was expected that fully 100, 0O0people
would be present, and it was understood
that socialistic and anarchistic orators
would deliver addresses of very inflamma-
tory character. Under the circumstances
the authorities deemed it wise to prevent
the meeting.
There is at present very unhappy condi
ton of affairs in London. There are tens
of thousands of people who are unemployed,
and very large percentage of them is on
the verge of starvation. Homeless men,
women and children wander about the
streets at night, and find resting place in
the public squares, and even on the pave
ments of the less frequented streets. Life
has few attractions for them, and death
has no terrors. Not long ago some of them
walked into Westminster Abbey while the
services were in progress and demanded that
the we'll paid preachers should divide their
salaries with them. 1t is evident that if a
riot were to occur in London there would
not only be great destruction Of property,
but also of life. All the conditions are there
for great disturbance, and it would re-
quire very little effort to collect mob that
would defy the authorities.
A meeting in Trafalgar square could do
no possible good, and might lead to a great
deal of harm. The government knows that
there is much suffering among the people,
and is just as likely to take steps to alleviate
it without any public demonstrations as
it is if there are demonstrations. 1t is prob
able, therefore, that while the refusal to
allow great meetings in Trafalgar square
will be severly criticised by few, it will be
generally approved by thinking people